French respect for Munster ‘war machine’

THE French press have unanimously endorsed Munster’s Heineken Cup credentials following their crushing semi-final victory over Leinster at Lansdowne Road on Sunday.

"Munster are tremendous," screamed L'Equipe yesterday. "Their rugby might be rustic at times, but their heart is huge."

Munster now take on Biarritz at Cardiff's Millennium Stadium on May 20 and, if the French media did not think Declan Kidney's side would provide a test before Sunday's game, they certainly do now.

"The Biarrots are warned. The challenge Munster will offer them will be simple, direct, brutal, fierce, executed with a flawless motivation and a huge generosity," L'Equipe said.

Paul O'Connell's impersonation of a modern-day Goliath also earned the Ireland second-rower rave reviews. Sunday's towering performance was the latest in a long line of superb displays from the 26-year-old, who can now lay claim to being the best lock in the northern hemisphere a fact not lost on Le Parisien.

"Talented Brian O'Driscoll's sparkling team was wiped out by Paul O'Connell's war machine," it read. "The whole of Ireland is now going to be behind Munster."

The fact that Leinster had destroyed a much-fancied Toulouse outfit in their own backyard at the quarter-final stage made Munster's showing all the more impressive in French eyes.

Rugby newspaper Midi Olympique expect the Munster side of 2006 to provide a tougher challenge to Biarritz than they did at the quarter-final stage of last year's competition, when they lost 19-10.

"The last rival of Biarritz in Cardiff's Millennium Stadium is now known," said the paper. "This is going to be Munster. This is their third final after losing the first two. Munster even lost the second final in Cardiff to the hands of Leicester.

"Biarritz could see a sign there but Munster certainly have gained in experience and efficiency in recent years."

It wasn't only the French media who were impressed by Munster's performance against their fellow countrymen on Sunday.